Description
The project aims to strengthen environmental NGOs in Northern Greece, since their effectiveness is limited due to a number of organizational and coordination issues. It involves that adoption and implementation of the Charter of Transparency and Accountability of International NGOs by the project promoter, which addresses issues of transparency and good governance. The project promoter will also develop a five-year strategic plan and establish a fund-raising department. Exchange of knowledge and best practices with the project partner and ten environmental NGOs, through networking initiatives will take place, aiming to increase their effectiveness in addressing various environmental issues. Finally a legal aid department for environmental NGOs will be established. It is expected that the project will strengthen the project promoter and environmental NGOs throughout, allowing them to better address numerous complex environmental issues, such as bio-diversity, global warming and pollution.
Summary of project results
In the economic and social crisis that Greece encounters recently, environmental NGOs face serious viability problems while attacks against all NGOs, who are accused for lack of legitimacy and opaque management of their resources, have been multiplied. The main purpose of the project was to strengthen CALLISTO’s capacity to be able to put into practice the principles of the Transparency and Accountability Charter of International NGOs. Despite the collective decisions taken in 2013, the lack of necessary resources delayed the application of these principles. During the implementation of the project, CALLISTO developed a ‘principles and values framework’ and its strategy for the five-year period 2016-2020. In addition, the NGO elaborated operating-procedures manuals which were formed after a broad consultation between members, employees, economic supporters and volunteers of the organization. Re-establishing and staffing the fundraising department, enabled the organization to produce souvenirs and to develop fundraising actions, to promote CALLISTO’s souvenirs and to increase the number of its supporters. Moreover, the organization’s website was enriched with two leaflets (one of which bilingual) and a multi-page booklet reporting the results of the first ten years of CALLISTO’s operation were printed, while six public events in equal number of cities were organized. Cooperation with independent auditors, which will annually monitor all the financial accounts of the organization has been initiated. The annual report of the independent auditors will be posted on CALLISTO’s website. Finally, exchange of best practices and experience - sharing with other NGOs was strengthened, and a Legal Team consisted of volunteers was established (six meetings were held during the project), supporting environmental NGOs’ interventions. In addition five training seminars in the use of new social media were organized. The project laid the foundations for the practical implementation of the principles of the International NGO Accountability Charter, strengthened structures and developed the skills of the staff of CALLISTO and other NGOs and organizations, contributing significantly to closer cooperation between them, which has contributed to increasing their efficiency and their social and environmental impact.
Summary of bilateral results